Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 60

Devanagari script

शैलादो हि महातेजा गणश्रेष्ठः पुरातनः । बुद्धि मान्नीतिनिपुणो महाबलपराक्रमी

Transliteration

śailādo hi mahātejā gaṇaśreṣṭhaḥ purātanaḥ | buddhi mānnītinipuṇo mahābalaparākramī

Translation

Śailāda était d’un éclat immense — ancien, le premier parmi les gaṇas — plein d’intelligence, habile en l’art de la conduite, et pourvu d’une force et d’une vaillance prodigieuses.

Word by Word

• śailādaḥ: Śailāda (proper name)
• śailādaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śailāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha/Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात—हेतौ/निश्चयार्थक (indeed/for)

• mahā-tejāḥ: of great splendor
• mahā-tejāḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + tejas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण

• gaṇa-śreṣṭhaḥ: chief of the gaṇas
• gaṇa-śreṣṭhaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• purātanaḥ: ancient
• purātanaḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: purātana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण

• buddhimān: intelligent
• buddhimān: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: buddhi (प्रातिपदिक) + matup् (-mān)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); मतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त (possessive adjective)

• nīti-nipuṇaḥ: skilled in policy
• nīti-nipuṇaḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nīti (प्रातिपदिक) + nipuṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण

• mahā-bala-parākramī: having great strength and valor
• mahā-bala-parākramī: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + bala (प्रातिपदिक) + parākrama (प्रातिपदिक) + in (इन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); इन्-प्रत्ययान्त (agentive/possessive adjective)

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narrator within Māheśvarakhaṇḍa context; likely Sūta/Lomaharṣaṇa)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kedāra

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Purāṇic audience (not specified)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Portrait-like introduction of Śailāda: radiant, ancient gaṇa-leader, poised and strategic, standing near Śiva’s domain with symbols of authority and calm valor.

Characters & Entities

• Śailāda
• Gaṇas (Śiva’s attendants)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Śiva’s attendants embody both spiritual power and dharmic discernment, guiding beings toward the right refuge.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Not directly; the verse supports the Kedārakhaṇḍa narrative milieu surrounding Kedāra and Śiva’s sphere.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None.